The report claims Burton’s is to take part in an international bid battle for UB which has been put up for sale by its private equity owners.

First round bids will be tabled on Monday as part of a dual-track process that could see UB float on the stock market instead of being bought.

The pending auction of Britain’s largest biscuit manufacturer has attracted interest from around the world. As well as Burton’s, those expected to lodge bids in some form are: Kelloggs and Mondelez, the American food giant, Ulker, the Turkish snack giant, and San Miguel, the Phillipines conglomerate, the report claims.

Last month the Aintree factory celebrated 100 years of snack-making and it remains one of the last major food manufacturing sites on Merseyside and churns out 55,000 tonnes of snacks each year.